Posted by Heidi Richards
on October 22, 2012 at 12:35 am
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by Jennifer Lee (Excerpt from WE Magazine for Women Fall Success Alchemy)

When I was a kid, I was always painting or drawing. Just hand me some markers and paper and I could entertain myself for hours by living in the world of my imagination. I enjoyed playtime and creating art projects.

As I got older, when I’d pick up a pencil to sketch, I would try to copy images to make them look as realistic as possible. I became more concerned with my end products “looking good” rather than the pure delight of creating. By the time I was in high school, I began comparing my creativity and artwork to others and gave into limiting beliefs like “I’m not talented enough. I’m not good enough. What right do I have to say I’m an artist? If you’re creative, you’re not taken seriously. And so on.” There went my creative spark!

So, like all other good young adults, I focused on doing well in school so I could get into a good college and have a good career.

I tried my very, very best to “look good” and stay within the lines.

I spent 10 years climbing the corporate ladder. My creativity and intuition gave way to drive and ambition. Sure, I was quite successful on paper and there were parts of my work that were intellectually stimulating and interesting. But I wasn’t happy or fulfilled. I didn’t feel like I was making a meaningful difference. I knew something was missing.

The catalyst that ignited my Success Alchemy of Coloring Outside the Lines was not one moment in time or a specific event. Rather, it was the culmination of aha moments along a long and winding path of inner work.

In 2000, I hired my first life coach and that started me in a journey of self-discovery and reclaiming my creativity. I uncovered my values, clarified my life vision, and I realized I was the artist of my own life.

In 2003, I started coaching certification and began building my coaching practice while working full-time. I loved truly making a positive difference in people’s lives. Around the same time I also participated in a powerful year-long leadership program which helped me own my gifts as a strong yet gentle, feminine, creative leader.

Yet even though I was reclaiming my creative self, I still kept my work and my creativity separate for a few more (painful!) years.

I finally decided to flee Corporate America after co-facilitating a leadership retreat for a friend’s non-profit and empowering participants to live their big dreams. I realized I needed to stop living my own dream “on-the-side.” I needed to walk my talk!

Author: Heidi Richards
Heidi Richards Mooney is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of WE Magazine for Women, a Wordpress Web Designer, the author of a dozen books and a social media consultant and trainer. Heidi has interviewed hundreds of experts on Social Media Around the World. In 2003 Heidi was named one of 50 women shaping the Internet by the International Virtual Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In 2009 she was named a Twitter Woman to Follow by Only2Clicks.com. She works with solopreneurs, professionals and small businesses in ecommerce, direct sales and retail. Follow Heidi on Google Plus